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Israel's Southern Arava region has experienced a boom in solar infrastructure development since 2011. Public acceptance of renewable energy installations is key to their successful implementation. The objective of this paper is to understand the level of acceptance of solar installations among Southern Arava communities and identify the factors that contributed to the widespread implementation of solar infrastructure in the region. Surveys and semi-structured interviews were distributed to five local kibbutz communities and local solar developers to gauge their attitudes about renewable technology in general and their acceptance of solar installations in their community. The results point to strong acceptance of solar technology in this region. Several factors contributed to this high level of support including kibbutz co-ownership of solar assets, transparent communication between stakeholders, and the kibbutz decision-making structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Community Culinary Coaching Program is a community-based participatory program aimed at improving communal settlement residents' nutrition. The residents, central kitchens, preschools, and communal dining rooms were identified as areas for intervention. Evaluation included goals accomplishment assessed by food purchases by the central kitchens, and residents' feedback through focus groups. Purchasing included more vegetables (mean (standard error) percent change), (+7% (4); P= .32), fish (+115% (11); P < .001),whole grains, and legumes (+77% (9); P < .001); and less soup powders (-40% (9); P < .05), processed beef (-55% (8); P < .001), and margarine (-100% (4); P < .001). Residents recommended continuing the program beyond the project duration. This model might be useful in organizations with communal dining facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass deployment of gas masks to an entire population, which occurred in Israel prior to the Persian Gulf crisis and their use in early 1991, were phenomena without precedent. In addition to the historical significance, there were considerable health and psychological ramifications. This research examines the experiences of the Israeli public during the Gulf war using a qualitative methodological approach, narrative analysis. Interviews of a convenience sample of 60 patients attending primary care clinics were audio-recorded by three family physicians using an open-ended interview guide. Encounters took place at sites located in the north, south and centre of the country during the period of Iraqi missile attacks. Patients' stories were analysed using a multistep narrative analysis protocol. Seventy per cent of subjects reported deleterious health effects related to the missile attacks or civil defence measures, mainly psychological and neurological complaints, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms. Recurrent themes and metaphors in the narratives most often focused on the difference of this war to others, the central involvement of the family, concern for children and identification and connection to the nation. The Scud missile attacks combined with the civil defence measures had significant impact on the population, as manifested in subjects' stories, symptoms, symbols and behaviour. Narrative analysis provided an efficient method to capture the rich texture of patients' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]